What’s that I hear? Is it cannon fire?

Oh no, it’s just the NOON DAY GUN, Maltese people have said since the 16th Century, as the Old Saluting Battery on the lower balcony of the St. Peter and St Paul Bastion fires out to sea – letting the ships in the harbour know it's about time for lunch.

The gun used to mark the hours of sunrise and sunset as well, capping off the working day, and though the practice faded it was resurrected in 2005 using the same British 24 pound cannons last used up until the 1960’s. Naturally the army of volunteers who do the firing are dressed the part as well.

You can’t really escape the sound – if you’re not expecting it it will probably make you jump – but if you want to have a proper look around the battery there are two tours daily, one at 1100, the other 1215 hours.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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